My stack

    Comparison · 6 tools · prices checked on September 25, 2026

    The best second brain apps in 2026

    A second brain app holds years of notes, so the price matters less than two other questions: where the files live, and how hard it is to leave. Some store plain Markdown on your disk, others keep everything in their cloud. The ranking below weighs that reversibility alongside value, ease of use and depth.

    Our picks at a glance

    Best overallObsidianFrom $4/mo · 4/5Best free optionLogseqFree · 3.8/5Cheapest to startHeptabaseFrom $8.99/mo · 3.2/5

    The ToolTrim take

    The double spend to watch: a second brain app and a separate workspace holding the same notes. Pick where your notes live and keep one. If you only work on one device, Obsidian's paid Sync is an option you may not need at all.

    The comparison

    #ToolEntry priceFree planToolTrim score
    1ObsidianMarkdown note-takingFrom $4/mo4/5
    2LogseqLocal knowledge graphFree3.8/5
    3NotionConnected workspaceFrom €9.50/mo3.6/5
    4HeptabaseVisual note-takingFrom $8.99/mo3.2/5
    5ReflectNetworked notesFrom $10/mo3.2/5
    6Roam ResearchNetworked note-takingFrom $13.75/mo3.2/5

    Price of the comparison plan, as published by the vendor, in its currency. Annual prices are shown per month.

    Tool by tool

    1. Obsidian

    Markdown note-taking

    From $4/moScore 4/5 · Great

    Obsidian is a free, local-first Markdown note-taking app with bidirectional linking, a plugin ecosystem, and optional paid sync and publish services.

    Free plan: Core desktop/mobile app is free with no feature restrictions; commercial use is allowed without payment

    • Core app is free even for commercial use, with no feature limits and no sign-up required.
    • Notes stay as local Markdown files, so they remain readable and portable even without Obsidian.
    • No built-in real-time collaboration; shared, co-edited vaults depend on the paid Sync service.
    • Cross-device syncing is not part of the free app and requires either the paid Sync add-on or a manual/third-party setup.
    Keep it if
    You want your notes as plain, portable Markdown files with linking and a plugin ecosystem, and you're comfortable setting up your own sync if you skip the paid option.
    Avoid it if
    Your team needs built-in real-time co-editing; Obsidian has no live collaboration feature at any price.

    Full reviewAll pricesAlternatives

    2. Logseq

    Local knowledge graph

    FreeScore 3.8/5 · Great

    Logseq is a free, open-source local-first knowledge graph app with an outliner and optional cloud sync.

    Free plan: The core local-first app is free and open source; Sync (cloud sync/backup) is only available via a recurring Open Collective contribution during its beta phase.

    • Core app is completely free, open source and local-first, with no lock-in.
    • Notes stored as plain markdown files, making export and backup straightforward.
    • Sync is still in beta and priced as an Open Collective contribution, not a stable commercial plan.
    • Whiteboards are locked behind the higher Sponsor tier, and Smart Merge for multi-device editing is experimental.
    Keep it if
    You want a free, local-first knowledge graph you fully own, with optional paid sync for multi-device access.
    Avoid it if
    You need a stable, fully commercial cloud sync today rather than a beta contribution model.
    Before you pay
    Sync pricing is currently a recurring donation during beta and is expected to change to a standard subscription once Sync launches publicly.

    Full reviewAll pricesAlternatives

    3. Notion

    Connected workspace

    From €9.50/moScore 3.6/5 · Average

    All-in-one workspace for notes, docs, wikis and databases, with a generous free plan and per-seat paid tiers.

    Free plan: Unlimited pages/blocks for individuals (limited for 2+ members), 5MB file uploads, 7-day page history, 10 guests

    • Free plan is genuinely usable long-term for a solo individual, not a crippled trial.
    • Full workspace export to open formats (HTML, Markdown, CSV) on every plan.
    • Page limits on Free kick in as soon as a workspace has more than one member.
    • AI agent usage bills separately as credits, adding a variable cost on top of the seat price.
    Keep it if
    You are a solo user, or a small team that needs shared docs, databases and light automation in one place.
    Avoid it if
    You need a dedicated heavy-duty project-management or BI tool at real scale.
    Before you pay
    AI agent tasks consume separately billed Notion credits ($10 per 1,000/month) that are easy to overlook when budgeting seat costs.

    Full reviewAll pricesAlternatives

    4. Heptabase

    Visual note-taking

    From $8.99/moScore 3.2/5 · Average

    Heptabase is visual note-taking software with infinite-canvas whiteboards and a built-in AI agent, sold only as a paid subscription after a 7-day trial.

    • Infinite-canvas whiteboards make it easy to visually connect notes instead of relying on a linear structure.
    • Unlimited notes, whiteboards and tags are included even on the entry Pro plan.
    • No permanent free plan: only a 7-day trial before a paid subscription is required.
    • AI usage is capped by a credit system that varies sharply between plans, from 100 to 8,100 credits a month.
    Keep it if
    Keep it if you build a long-term, visual knowledge base and are willing to pay from day one.
    Avoid it if
    Avoid it if you want a free note-taking tool or heavy AI usage on a budget: credits run out fast on the entry plan.
    Before you pay
    Premium+ mentions discounted extra AI credits, implying add-on credits can also be purchased beyond the plan's monthly quota.

    Full reviewAll pricesAlternatives

    5. Reflect

    Networked notes

    From $10/moScore 3.2/5 · Average

    Reflect is a networked note-taking app with backlinks, AI writing help and voice transcription, priced at one $12 monthly plan with no free tier.

    • One flat price covers AI writing, voice transcription and calendar-linked meeting notes without separate add-on fees.
    • Connects to Zapier, Google Calendar, Outlook and Readwise instead of staying siloed from other tools.
    • No free plan: billing starts right after the 14-day trial ends.
    • Only one plan and one price, so a lighter user pays the same as a heavy one.
    Keep it if
    You want one AI-assisted, backlink-based notes app across devices and are fine paying a flat monthly fee from day 15.
    Avoid it if
    You want a free tier to test long-term before paying, or need a lower-cost tier for occasional, light use.

    Full reviewAll pricesAlternatives

    6. Roam Research

    Networked note-taking

    From $13.75/moScore 3.2/5 · Average

    Roam Research is a networked note-taking app built on bidirectional links, daily notes and block references.

    • Bidirectional links and block references make connecting ideas across notes fast and native to the tool
    • One-time Believer plan lowers long-term cost compared to paying monthly indefinitely
    • No free plan: only a 31-day trial before a paid commitment is required
    • Price has not changed since 2020, now higher than comparable newer networked note-taking tools
    Keep it if
    You think in networked notes and want block references and roam/js customization for your own workflows.
    Avoid it if
    You want a free or cheaper networked-notes tool: Logseq offers the same block-based model at no cost.

    Full reviewAll pricesAlternatives

    How we rank

    The ranking follows the ToolTrim five-axis score, each axis backed by a source cited on the tool's page. When two scores tie, the more searched tool goes first. Prices come from each vendor's official page, never converted. Links to vendors may be affiliate links; they change neither the score nor the position.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the best option for freelancers who think in notes?

    Obsidian tops this ranking with a ToolTrim score of 4/5. The right pick still depends on how you work: each entry states when to keep it and when to avoid it.

    Is there a free option?

    Yes. Obsidian, Logseq and Notion offer a permanent free plan. The best rated of them here is Logseq.

    What is the cheapest paid option?

    Heptabase, from $8.99/mo, based on the price the vendor publishes.

    How is this ranking built?

    Each tool is scored on five axes (added value, simplicity, day-to-day use, power, reversibility), each score backed by a source cited on its page. Prices are read on the vendor's official page, in its currency. No vendor pays for its position.